Entries for June 2009

Twenty thousand new affordable homes announced as part of the Building Britain’s Future programme with be a mix of Code for Sustainable Homes levels, from three upwards, according to Richard McCarthy of DCLG. 

Many UK companies have no idea about their current carbon emissions so can’t apply for the Carbon Trust Standard, it was revealed this month. 

The Conservative Party would scrap the Building Regulations and put forward challenging standards in their place, according to John Gummer, who announced the plans at an Environment Industries Commission conference on climate change.

London’s first vertical gardens were unveiled last month, prompting a flurry of interest in the mainstream press, and prompting Ella Taylor to wonder just how much do they do to benefit our environment.

Last month the Building Services Research and Information Association published partial statistics for new school Energy Performance Certificates, but only showed part of the problem, as full statistics are nearly impossible to find.

Energy company E.on has called on the UK Green Building Council to set up a task group to remove planning obstacles and red tape to low carbon infrastructure such as community energy networks.

Sunderland University's new £12m sports and social centre, Cityspace, has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent standard, rare for a sports facility as internal environmental requirements vary drastically from floor to floor, along with energy loads and occupancy levels.

The Welsh Assembly Government has published new building standards in its draft technical advice note Planning for Sustainable Buildings which is now out for consultation until July 31.

Labour MP Paddy Tipping has tabled a new Early Day Motion promoting the benefits of a low carbon industrial strategy.

Louis Eperjesi is resigning as executive director from the board of Kingspan Group at the end of July to pursue other business interests.